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Article: Medicaid
- Article from:
- Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2000 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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MEDICAID
Medicaid is a large social welfare program operated jointly by the federal and state governments. A 1965 amendment to the Social Security Act of 1935 created the program, which allows low-income individuals access to medical care.
How does it work? The federal government provides money to the states. The states then add funding of their own to this amount and administer medical programs for the poor in compliance with federally established standards.
Before Medicaid developed, health care for the poor was very limited and came from a variety of sources, including hospitals, charities, and state and local governments.
What type of care can a Medicaid patient receive? A Medicaid ...